Member News

With the cost of living on the rise and energy prices increasing, it’s important for businesses to find ways to be more efficient in order to reduce their energy consumption and cut back on bills. Overusing energy is costly, and it can happen easily as a result of something as simple as leaving a computer on overnight. Basic housekeeping can save in the region of 5-10%. Take a look at our top tips below to help you. Ensure staff have switched off their computers before they go home It might seem like common sense, but it’s often the simplest things which get forgotten. The clock is fast approaching home time, there’s only a few minutes left to finish off what you’re working on before packing up and making a mad dash for the door. It’s probably safe to say most of us have been in a similar situation and there’s no time to wait the couple of minutes it takes to shut down our computer or we simply forget in the mad rush. Firstly, it’s also not great for computers to be left on overnight so you could end up with a hefty repair or replacement bills. Secondly, by turning it off, you could save your business a few pounds on its electricity bills. Now have a think about how many computers you have in your office, and you’ll soon see there’s a creditable amount of saving to be made. It might also be worth considering turning them off at the plug socket on weekends and holidays as machines and appliances continue to draw power even when they are plugged in. Encourage employees to only boil the water they need for a cup of tea We know how important tea breaks can be, not only to get our daily dose of caffeine but they have also been proven to increase productivity! Let’s be clear, we aren’t suggesting you should cut them out of your routine or even ask your employees to measure out each cup of water, merely just to encourage them to only boil what they need. There’s no point in boiling the same water repeatedly and by simply reminding your staff to be considerate it could make a difference. Install motion sensitive lighting We can all be forgiven for not remembering to switch off the lights each time we leave a room, it’s especially easy where you don’t necessarily need them. Motion sensitive lighting does all the hard work for you and turn off automatically when rooms are not in use and can therefore help to drive down your electricity usage. Make the most of the natural light in the summer months by opening blinds during the day as this will also help! Put up energy saving posters to remind your staff everyday Remind employees of any energy saving measures by putting up posters to prompt them. These could be polite reminders to staff regarding things like turning off their computers before leaving or only boiling the necessary water. Something like this is simple to implement but can earn significant results. Invest in energy saving technologies and products Many business owners are unaware of the big differences pieces of equipment make in the workplace. Although they can sometimes cost more up front, energy efficient devices can save you money over the years of use. They also bring with them several other benefits including greater mobility. Switching to laptops, for example, which use less energy than desktop computers, can enable staff to become more flexible in where and when they work. Choose equipment with an A+ energy rating, and you can expect cheaper energy bills — balancing out the purchase price. There you have it, our top tips to help your business be more energy efficient. If you would like any more information, please get in touch hello@indigoswan.co.uk or call us 01603 625522 Image credits Chambers Canva Pro

A help point at a Greater Anglia station. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia is improving customer help points at stations, following feedback from customers about response times and connectivity. The train firm is using AI technology on a number of its station help points to ensure customers can get the answers they need quicker. Customers using help points at stations fitted with the AI technology will be able to get answers to questions such as what train they need to catch and what time the next train is leaving more quickly – simply by pressing the blue ‘information’ button. The AI system, called ‘IVY’, will supplement teams who answer the help points manually, freeing up operators to deal with more complex queries. The system will also automatically put a customer through to an operator if anyone says they need assistance or help in emergencies. Users can also press the dedicated green ‘emergency’ button. The new system can be updated as it evolves with additional features in the future such as giving more information such as the cost of tickets. The first help point with the new technology will be unveiled at Lea Bridge station on Monday 31 October, with Greater Anglia managers present between 10.30am – 12.30pm to show how it works and ask customers what they think about it. The IVY system is also being installed in help points at Acle, Beccles, Braintree Freeport, Bury St Edmunds, Cromer, Dovercourt, Enfield Lock, Harlow Mill, Hythe, Ponders End, Prittlewell, Sheringham and Waltham Cross stations in the coming months. Neil Atkin, Greater Anglia’s Head of Customer Experience, said: “We’re always listening to our customers and this innovative AI system has been developed based on their feedback. “It will make our help points better for our customers, particularly at our unstaffed stations and when the connection may not be 100% clear or answered as quickly as customers always need. “We’re looking forward to unveiling the first one at Lea Bridge on 31 October and seeing how the technology evolves going forward to help customers even further.”

LSI Architects have been certified as a Carbon Neutral Business by Carbon Neutral Britain. This follows a period in which LSI Architects have been working with Carbon Neutral Britain to measure and calculate the total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions produced directly and indirectly from it’s activities to identify what action the practice needed to take to reverse it’s environmental impact to achieve carbon neutral status. As certification awarded by an external organisation, it provides assurance that the carbon neutral claim is robust and credible, following calculation using the ISO 14064 and GHG Protocol Emissions Standard principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency and accuracy. Through the Carbon Neutral Britain Climate Fund™, LSI Architects has offset its total carbon emissions through internationally certified carbon offsetting projects. Chief Executive Officer Ben Goode commented: “We hope that this can give our clients, employees and colleagues within the construction industry an assurance that we are doing all we can as an organisation to reduce our impact on the planet. We have been working hard to understand what that impact is through an emissions mapping exercise to calculate the carbon footprint of the Norwich and London offices. So far, we have leased a new long-range EV as our pool car to cut out petrol usage and reduced the use of gas and electric by c. 10% through behavioural changes and improved heating schedules. Alongside joining an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme we have offered employees incentives to consider switching to electric vehicles and are exploring other ways in which we can incentivise our team to use more sustainable modes of transport. We are also in the process of modelling our Norwich office to identify the most effective improvements we can make to the building and are beginning to plan for the installation of Solar Panels. Ultimately, we are viewing this very much as the first step in a journey and our main target is to achieve net zero emissions from our office activities at both our Norwich and London premises by 2030.” Image provided by LSI architects

Who you gonna call? Sci-fi fanatics have become un-boo-lievable fundraisers by using their passion for cult classic Ghostbusters to support East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The Norfolk Ghostbusters are a group of die-hard film fans who dress as characters from the blockbuster and attend comic book conventions. They have bucket collections for EACH, as well as using banners, flags and balloons to raise awareness of the charity, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. The group have been raising funds throughout the year and recently delivered a cheque for £379 to The Nook, in Framingham Earl, where they met EACH community fundraising assistant Megan Kemp. “It’s been great fun, getting in the spirit and combining our passion for the film with fundraising for EACH,” said founding member Anthony Shellard. “I remember being at a convention once and seeing the amount of money people were making selling all kinds of things. It made me think that it would be amazing to have some fun while at the same time raising funds for a worthy cause. “We wanted to support a charity we all believe in and that’s when we came across EACH. “It’s perfect because it helps families and children across Norfolk. “Raising funds and spreading awareness is our way of giving something back for the incredible work it does.” The Norfolk Ghostbusters consist of Anthony, Carl Smith, Kim and Ross Wainwright, Darren Porter, Ian Rudd and Aaron Storey. Wives, children and other family members also get involved and this year the group have attended ‘comic-cons’ in Great Yarmouth, Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London, as well as carrying out a street collection in Great Yarmouth. Since delivering their cheque they have raised an additional £81 and the group have already said they will continue supporting EACH in 2023. “I’ve always been a massive Ghostbusters fan and love all science-fiction, especially from the 1980s,” added construction manager Anthony, who lives in Caister-on-Sea with wife Michelle and children Miles, seven, and Millie, five. “I built a full-size Dalek and Tardis for my wedding and then started making Ghostbusters props, which led to starting the Norfolk Ghostbusters along with Super Power Parties. “We started getting invited along to birthday parties, weddings and other events and people have wanted photos for all different occasions. “Doing this is a way of putting smiles on faces, as well as raising money. “In addition to our bucket collections, people can also donate directly to the charity via our Facebook page.” Megan said: “It was lovely meeting up with the Norfolk Ghostbusters. “They dressed in their amazing costumes for our cheque presentation and have done such an amazing job supporting us and raising funds throughout the year. “We’re extremely grateful and it’s great knowing they plan to continue supporting us next year, too.” Pictured from left to right in the photo at The Nook are Kim, Ian, Darren, Anthony, Ross, Carl and Aaron. Aaron’s children Freddie and Robyn also joined them on the day. Image credits EACH  

Mark reflects on the chat earlier this year with artificial intelligence specialist, Alix Rübsaam. In this BITESIZE episode she discusses accessibility and legislation around algorithms, what businesses can do now to keep up with what’s coming, and how discrimination and bias works across apps, websites etc. She also covers avoiding compliancy around the technology whilst pursuing efficiency and outsourcing to it. This episode is the perfect buddy to last week’s chat with Alison Alexander on the metaverse. We recommend you listen to both to get a full picture of the future of tech and the internet, and how technology will impact the human element of how we perform business. You can listen to the full episode with Alix here, and why not follow up with Alison’s episode here. Don’t forget you can also WATCH both episodes on our YouTube channel! GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk or leave us a voice note here. You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcast, or click here to listen now! We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk

Christmas has arrived at Chantry Place Norwich with new lights, selfie spots and extended opening hours in November and December. Chantry Place, home to brands including Apple, House of Fraser, Langleys, Lush, Rituals and Wagamama, is now decked out for Christmas with a ‘Trio of Twinkling Trees’ on Chantry Square, replacing the popular ‘tunnel of stars’ last year, plus an 8 metre Christmas tree and a Santa’s sleigh to sit in inside the Centre! Visitors will also have even longer to shop as Chantry Place brings back Thursday late night shopping until 8pm throughout November and December, and selected retailers will also be trading until 8pm in December on Fridays and Saturdays (check chantryplace.co.uk).  The Centre will close at 5pm on Christmas Eve and reopen on Boxing Day. Paul McCarthy, general manager of Chantry Place, said: “It really has been a fantastic year for Chantry Place and we are ending the year on a high with the launch of our new Christmas lights, which also includes various reindeer to spot around the Centre – see if you can spot the one with the red nose! We can’t wait to see all the photos and smiles from everyone when they see Santa’s sleigh and walk through our wonderful gold trees on the Square. People are shopping earlier this year than ever before and we have gifts for everyone, from toys to perfume, beauty, chocolates, fashion, home and more. We also have more Christmas news to announce soon, including making 12 of our visitors Christmas wishes come true with our magical post box, plus support of a charity Christmas appeal, pop ups, retailer news and more.” This year, Chantry Place has welcomed several new retailers including Rituals, Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight, Laser Clinic and a Hotel Chocolat café. For more information on Chantry Place, visit www.ChantryPlace.co.uk or follow chantryplacenorwich on social media. Image credits Chantry Place

Are you expanding your Business? Do you have plans to improve productivity or efficiency? Are you launching new products or services? Did you know the New Anglia Growth Hub Small Grant Scheme Offers grants of between £1,000 – £25,000 to help your business grow To see if you meet the criteria and are eligible to make an application, further details can be found here or contact us. info@newangliagrowthhub.co.uk 0300 333 6536 Here are case studies who have already benefitted from Growth Hub support and the Small Grant Scheme https://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/success-story/signs-express/ https://www.newangliagrowthhub.co.uk/success-story/alpha-inclusion/ Images provided by New Anglia LEP

A mum whose son died after just nine weeks says regular counselling sessions are proving a godsend while dealing with her “overwhelming, unbearable” grief. Cobey Mason was born prematurely at nearly 33 weeks on 11^th November, 2021. He had a condition called hydrops fetalis and scans revealed a tumour around his right lung. Bleeding complications meant surgeons were only able to remove 90% of it and he remained critically ill at Great Ormand Street Hospital, in London. Cobey started chemotherapy but his body was unable to cope and, due to the aggressive type of cancer, another tumour developed. He gained his “angel wings” on 17^th January 2022 and, ever since, mum Kristina has been receiving bereavement counselling at the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) base near Norwich. She makes regular trips to The Nook, in Framingham Earl, and says those sessions – both individual and group – have played a key role in helping her navigate the pain of Cobey’s death. “Grieving has been what I can only describe as a very unpredictable journey for me,” said Kristina, who lives in Norwich. “I’ve experienced every emotion possible and it’s been overwhelming. “I found it very hard to accept at the beginning, until I began having one-to-one counselling at The Nook. “Thanks to that, and in time, I’ve slowly been able to accept and understand our journey. “I understand my feelings and also the different stages of grief. “At the start, the thought of counselling was extremely daunting but it’s something I’d definitely recommend to others in a similar situation. “The grief from your baby or child passing away is unbearable and can be so lonely. “However, I find it comforting having other mums and dads around me, knowing they’re living, and trying to cope, with exactly the same thing.” Cobey’s condition, hydrops fetalis, meant fluid was retained in the wrong parts of his body. Kristina, 31, feared something was wrong even before he was born. “There was reduced movement and I had a feeling something wasn’t right, so was told to visit the hospital for monitoring,” she said. “At one point various professionals entered the room, and I was told my baby needed to be delivered straight away via caesarean under general anaesthetic. “I have little memory from that day but remember coming round from the anaesthetic and speaking to a consultant, who told me my baby wasn’t breathing and had to be resuscitated. “At that stage, the doctors weren’t sure if he’d survive 24 hours.” Cobey continued to battle and defy the odds for nine weeks. It was after his death that Kristina was referred to EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia. “Cobey gained his angel wings while having mummy cuddles – something we didn’t have enough of,” she said. “Despite all the odds, he fought hard throughout his short life and showed so much courage on a daily basis. “Throughout our journey, I remained as close as possible to Cobey. “Every day, he began to create a cheeky and funny personality and I have so many precious memories that I’ll cherish forever. “I’m forever grateful for the nine weeks we had together and I’ll always be proud to be his mummy.” Image credits EACH  

Tiger Eye are delighted to announce that they have been selected as iManage Partner for Mills & Reeve, managing the leading UK law firm’s iManage Cloud migration project and supporting the system once live. During the multi-phase two-year project, Tiger Eye will migrate over 85 million documents to Cloud iManage – iManage’s Azure based edge cloud platform. As a trusted iManage Partner, Tiger Eye will manage the transition for Mills & Reeve’s team of over 1,200 staff (including more than 600 lawyers), who are based in seven offices across the UK. A key aspect of the migration includes the transformation of Mills & Reeve’s existing legacy apps and SQL code into future-proofed Universal API-approved installations, as well as the conversions of iManage integrations (including PMS integrations) to Cloud-compliant versions in order to streamline user’s iManage workflows once live in the cloud. This will be managed by Tiger Eye’s Development Team, and Project Delivery department. Delivering high quality, practical legal advice across a broad range of legal sectors and jurisdictions, Mills & Reeve’s diverse client-base includes individuals and organisations such as FTSE 250 firms and fast-growth start-ups. In addition to recording 95.5% NQ retention in 2022, the firm is also one of only a small number of organisations to be named one in The Sunday Times’ annual ‘the 100 Best Companies to Work For’ survey for 19 years running. The firm’s DMS upgrade and Cloud move features as part of the organisation’s innovative digital transformation strategy, which focuses heavily on end-user experience. Iain Cushion, IT Director at Mills & Reeve, commented: “After a full review of all UK iManage Partners, our team were united in our selection of Tiger Eye. The Tiger Eye Team’s unrivalled technical expertise and unparalleled customer service were key drivers in our selection. From initial engagement onwards, Tiger Eye have gone above and beyond to share expertise and deliver effective results for our firm. We look forward to continuing our relationship with their team in the coming months as the project further unfolds.” David Bullock, Client Services Director at Tiger Eye, added: “We are delighted to be working with Mills & Reeve on this project. The firm is not only well-known across the UK, but also has a large footprint in our organisation’s local area, with offices in Norwich and Cambridge (as well as those further afield). We have been impressed by Mills & Reeve’s digital transformation strategy, and are pleased to be supporting their innovative approach to IT.” Images provided by Tiger Eye  

Norwich-based jewellery and accessories retailer, Lisa Angel, has confirmed that its new expanded store at Chantry Place will open at 10am on Tuesday 1st November 2022. Lisa Angel herself will officially open the new store, located on the lower ground floor next to Oliver Bonas and opposite H&M HOME. The new shop includes a personalisation station with a stunning seating area so customers can relax whilst their personalised products are created. It will also stock a larger range of gorgeous dried flowers and bouquets from The Norfolk Flower Room, plus a wider range of products and gifts, including inspirational as well as beautiful Christmas gifts. Lisa Angel, the founder of the gifting and lifestyle brand which shares her name, said: “We’re proud to be an independent Norfolk business, so this is a real milestone for us. The larger space allows us to showcase even more of our beautiful products, and we are working hard to make the store look beautiful – we can’t wait for everyone to see it. I’m so grateful to our wonderful customers who continue to support the brand and have enabled us to grow, as well as the Lisa Angel and Chantry Place teams.“ Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, comments: “Lisa Angel is a local success story which has gone from strength-to-strength and the team, and store, are extremely popular with our customers, recently winning ‘best for jewellery and accessories’ and ‘best for customer service’ in our Best Place Awards. They are renowned for their beautiful shop windows and stores, and we have been lucky enough to see a preview and see inside the new shop and it will not disappoint. Of course, the new shop opens in perfect time for Christmas shopping.” Lisa Angel has had a stand at Chantry Place for over 10 years and opened its permanent shop at the Centre in 2018. The Lisa Angel brand has continued to go from strength to strength and is sold across the world. This expansion and relocation is another fantastic milestone for this local brand and we couldn’t be happier for them. For more information on Chantry Place, please visit www.ChantryPlace.co.uk or follow chantryplacenorwich on social media. For more information on Lisa Angel, visit www.lisaangel.co.uk or follow @lisaangeluk on social media. Photo credits Lisa Angel

Bespoke technology is helping Greater Anglia reduce delays by spotting potential issues with trees and plants on the railway. Trees and branches blocking the line or obscuring signals, and falling leaves compressing into a slippery black-ice-like mulch can cause delays and inconvenience to rail passengers. Greater Anglia is tackling this problem by using video recorded on its trains to see which areas are becoming potentially overgrown – recording main routes between London and Norwich and the whole of the West Anglia Mainline running from London via Cambridge. The recordings are analysed using AI technology to highlight areas of problem vegetation. Maps are then generated showing where issues have been found, allowing Network Rail engineers to pre-emptively tackle the areas before they cause delays, prioritising issues depending on their severity. The project is a collaboration involving Network Rail, railway technology company CrossTech, and other partners. Picture credit: Greater Anglia Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s engineering director, said: “The footage from our trains and our collaboration with Network Rail and CrossTech is key in giving an early alert to our colleagues at Network Rail so that any problematic areas where trees or other lineside vegetation are about to obscure anything are quickly picked up. “We are delighted to be able to support Network Rail in adopting this novel technology because it means fewer delays for our trains and the busy routes we run on our network.” Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Managing vegetation is hugely important to us. If not managed well, trees and fallen leaves can pose a risk to the safe running of the railway and cause delays to trains. “This new technology helps our teams quickly pinpoint exactly where lineside vegetation is likely to be an issue, so it can be cut back before it causes delays to passenger services.”

Picture credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia and Network Rail are making joint preparations to tackle slippery autumn rail conditions – following a huge improvement in punctuality last autumn. The two organisations work together every year to minimise the effects of autumn on train performance. Leaves on the line can pose problems for the railway as they stick to damp rails and passing trains compress them into a thin, slippery black layer on the rail which – much like black ice on the roads – can affect braking distance and reduce traction and acceleration. This means train drivers must slow down earlier for stations and signals to avoid overshooting them. They must also accelerate more gently to avoid wheel spin. All this can increase journey time and lead to delays for passengers. However, figures show that Greater Anglia recorded its best autumn performance ever last year – with a reduction in delay minutes due to slippery rails and fewer cancellations compared to the previous year. During autumn 2021, Greater Anglia’s overall punctuality score was 94.48%* from 19 September 2021 – 8 January 2022, making it the best autumn yet for the train company. Delay minutes were down 19.5% in autumn 2021 compared to 2020 and 84.5% compared to 2019. There were just 2.5 cancellations due to autumn weather in 2021. In 2019 there were 48.5. Greater Anglia’s new trains have been credited with handling the challenges of the ‘leaf fall’ season significantly better than the operator’s old fleet. Greater Anglia’s Engineering Director, Martin Beable, explains, “Most trains are fitted with a system called ‘Wheel Slip Protection – or WSP. This is the equivalent of the ABS system you have in your car and prevents trains from skidding which can damage their wheels. “Our brand new intercity, regional and electric commuter trains are fitted with the very latest Wheel Slide Protection systems which have been thoroughly tested and developed to be optimal. “This means that any sliding on greasy rails – with lots of leaves compressed on the top of the rail – is limited and causes less damage to the wheels and track.” When it is necessary, the trains also deposit a small quantity of sand onto the rail which helps the train wheels to grip, particularly where there is leaf contamination. Train drivers can also deploy the sand manually as a preventative measure when they are approaching leafy areas, to keep services running smoothly. This year Greater Anglia has also started using cameras in train cabs to record footage of trains’ journeys – the video is then analysed using AI technology to highlight areas of problem vegetation and produce maps used by Network Rail’s vegetation clearance teams. The aim is to deal with potential problem areas before they start causing delays. In addition, Network Rail has already deployed its team of six ‘leaf busting’ Rail Head Treatment Trains (RHTTs) which will operate 24/7 blasting leaves off the lines with high pressure water jets. Together they will clock up over 80,000 kilometres from 26 September until 16 December to keep rails clear across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, East London and Essex. Specialist leaf fall teams will also be deployed to carry out inspections and clear compressed leaves from the rails by hand where needed. Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, Ellie Burrows, said: “Autumn is always a challenge for the railway but our leaf-busting teams will be working around-the-clock to keep passengers moving this autumn. We’re deploying special treatment trains to clean rails and have engineers ready to respond to issues as they occur and we’ll be taking preventative action wherever possible to keep services running on time.”